Paper 2 - Sports Psychology Flashcards
Define personality
The sum of an individual’s characteristics which make them unique.
Define arousal
Level of excitement and readiness to perform.
What are the 4 primary personality types of Eysenck’s personality types
Introvert
Extrovert
Stable
Unstable
Define introvert & extrovert personalities with examples
Introvert = Doesn’t seek social situations/shy/prefer individual activities
e.g. netball player avoiding communication with the team
Extrovert = Likes social situations/outgoing/prefers team sports
e.g. netball player socialising/communicating with teammates
Define stable & unstable personalities with examples
Stable = Behaviour is predictable and consistent
e.g. netball player reacting in the same calm manner to decisions
Unstable = Behaviour is unpredictable
e.g. netball player reacting in a different way to decisions
Eysenck : Introversion vs extroversion
Bases around Reticular Activating System (RAS). It is this part of the brain which responds to external stimuli such as social contact.
This function of the RAS is to maintain our optimum level of arousal:
Extroverts have low levels of RAS activity so low levels of arousal = seek more external stimulation to achieve higher levels of arousal.
Introverts have high levels of RAS activity so high levels of arousal = avoid external stimulation.
Eysenck : Stable vs Unstable
Stable personality traits are unchangeable and remain consistent and predictable.
E.g. a stable trait could be calmness in most situations or high levels of anxiety in most situations.
Unstable personality traits are changeable and unpredictable, also referred to as neurotic.
E.g. an individual might be emotionally aggressive, but the amount of aggression varies from time to time.
Identify Girdano’s Narrow Band Theory personality types (define & examples)
Type A = Prone to personal anxiety and stress/highly competitive/like to be in control/desire to succeed/works fast
e.g. football player volunteering to take penalties
Type B = Not prone to personal anxiety and stress/not competitive/doesn’t like to be in control/lacking desire to succeed/works slow
e.g. football player NOT volunteering to take penalties
What does the trait theory propose
The trait theory proposes that personality is:
Innate/inherited
Stable and enduring
Consistent across situations
TRAIT= innate
e.g. a boxer inherits traits of aggression and demonstrates it both inside and out of the ring
B = F (P)
B = behaviour, F = function, P = personality traits
Strengths & weaknesses of the trait theory
Strengths
Is some evidence to show that personality is innate (e.g. aggression)
If correct, behaviour can be predicted (e.g. by coaches)
Weaknesses
Unlikely to be just innate input that determines personality
Doesn’t take into account learnt behaviour
Identical twins brought up in different environments do not demonstrate the same personality, suggesting it’s not just traits that determine personality
What does the social learning theory propose that personality is learnt as a result of?
B = F (E)
The environment
Imitation of significant other/role model
Learning requires reinforcement
Explain the social learning theory with examples
This theory was presented by Bandura - (Most likely if same gender, race or position of authority)
This theory suggests that personality changes with the situation and the environment influences behaviours.
e.g. a young player imitating a captain kicking the ball out of play when an opposition player is injured and is clapped by crowd
(Would explain why we are like the people that are significant to us and why twins that have been separated have different personalities).
Strengths and weaknesses of the social learning theory
Strengths
Evidence that some aspects of personality learned by watching and copying significant others/role models/environment
Bobo doll experiment from Bandura supports this idea
Weaknesses
Children/siblings/twins brought up in the same way don’t always display the same personality
Doesn’t take into account innate traits (trait theory)
If the theory was true, we would all have the same personality/copy our role models
What does the interactionist theory propose
Personality formation is a combination of the trait and social learning approach
Innate traits are triggered by environmental change
B = F (P x E)
Example of the interactionist theory
The trait of aggression is triggered following a high tackle in rugby or the trait of competitive anxiety is only triggered in a cup final
